Burden of Isaiah
Preserved but no longer current.
"The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see." Burden, here, is a literal translation of the Heb, massa (rendered in the Vulgate by onus), which means "lifting up" either a burden or the voice; hence "utterance," , hence a prophecy announcing a calamity, or a de- nunciation of hardships on those against whom the burden is uttered.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Burden of Isaiah” mean?
"The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see." Burden, here, is a literal translation of the Heb, massa (rendered in the Vulgate by onus), which means "lifting up" either a burden or the voice; hence "utterance," , hence a prophecy announcing a calamity, or a de- nunciation of hardships on those against whom the burden is uttered.
Is “Burden of Isaiah” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.